Athlete of the Month
Sponsored by Indian Head Athletics
BY RYAN O’CONNOR
Entering the fourth quarter of the Division II championship game, down 7-0 to his most-hated foe, Exeter, Bishop Guertin head football coach Tony Johnson called the number of a 6-foot-1 sophomore transfer from West High School to ignite his team’s slumping offense.
Entering the fourth quarter of the Division II championship game, down 7-0 to his most-hated foe, Exeter, Bishop Guertin head football coach Tony Johnson called the number of a 6-foot-1 sophomore transfer from West High School to ignite his team’s slumping offense.
Andy Vailas caught two passes on the next two drives, one for 51 yards, which put the Cardinals in position to tie the contest. Then, on the next possession, he snagged the ball along the sideline and streaked 61 yards to the end zone, giving BG the lead en route to a 21-14 victory.
“The ball was there, but the route was perfect,” said Johnson, following that 2006 contest. “The kid was money. He was money.”
The next year, against Dover in the opening round of the playoffs, Vailas snared a 64-yard touchdown reception on the first play from scrimmage, providing BG with all the momentum it needed to cruise to a 34-12 triumph. Again, Johnson wasn’t at a loss for words.
“Andy Vailas, in my opinion, is the best athlete In Division II and one of the best athletes in the state,” said the coach.
Fast forward to Nov. 22, 2008. Vailas proved, once again, he’s worthy of his coach’s praise.
Yes, on the biggest stage, he’s the ultimate playmaker. Three minutes into the first quarter, Vailas, now at quarterback, broke off on an option run, dodged a couple Exeter defenders and hit the open field. The result was a 69-yard touchdown and an early BG lead.
The senior signal caller found the end zone again five minutes later on a 12-yard run that gave the Cardinals all the points they needed.
Complementing his offensive performance, which included 104 yards on the ground, Vailas, from his defensive safety position, finished the contest with the ball in his hands.
With the game on the line and the final seconds ticking off the clock, Exeter’s own standout quarterback, Andrew Kukesh, heaved a desperation pass that No. 14 picked off to secure BG’s fourth D-II title in five years. For his performance, Vailas has been named the Indian Head Athletics Athlete of the Month.
“He does a great job in our option attack. He does a great job all over the field,” said Johnson. “He’s just a great athlete and ... in our offense we try to put the ball in our best athlete’s hands 60 times and make sure something happens.
“Anytime he’s on the field, you have to account for him. And if you don’t, he’s going to burn you.”
The senior tallied 21 touchdowns this season – all but one on the ground – and intercepted 10 passes.
It’s no coincidence Guertin’s lone D-II setback – an 18-14 home defeat to Keene on Oct. 24 – came with Vailas sidelined with an injury.
So when the Cardinals opened this postseason against those same Blackbirds, Vailas said he was more than eager to help his teammates avenge the loss.
“After the first Keene game, I knew right then it should have never happened and our team was much better than that,” he said following BG’s 18-8 playoff win. “It was definitely a very sloppy (victory), but I was just happy to be a part of getting the job done.”
His defensive backfield mate, junior Nick Carluccio, said Vailas wasn’t vocal. Yet he consistently led by example. “He’s just a great allaround athlete. I think he can do anything out there. Coach Johnson knows it, all the other coaches know it, and we as players certainly see it every day. He’s an amazing player,” said Carluccio. “Especially to us Bedford kids, because we all knew him before (high school football), he’s been a great influence on all of us. He really picked us up whenever we got down and really made the most of his role as captain.”
“I’m not really much of a hard (case),” Vailas said. “I like to be a nice guy, but I’ll also make sure people know what needs to be done. I think it’s easier being able to communicate by talking and going out there and doing it, rather than yelling.”
Players and coaches agree: his play has spoken loudly and clearly.
(Editor’s note: The Athlete of the Month receives a $50 gift certificate courtesy of Indian Head Athletics.)